By james art The child’s former family home in Dundalk, County Louth, was searched on Tuesday by detectives investigating his alleged murder.
The search continued throughout the day until about 6 p.m. and is expected to resume Wednesday morning.
The house, which is now occupied by new tenants unrelated to the investigation, was in the possession of Irish police after they obtained a warrant from the District Court.
An Garda Siochana confirmed last week that a homicide investigation had been launched.
On Tuesday night, Tusla Children and Families Agency said it raised significant concerns about Kyran with gardai in August.
“We can confirm that while Kieran was not in Tusla’s care, our services engaged with both him and his family,” Tusla said.
“In August 2024, we alerted An Garda Siochana in relation to significant concerns about Kieran.
“Since August we have continued to assist and work closely with the gardai and in line with normal practice all relevant information has been shared.
“We can also confirm that, where appropriate, notification has been made to the National Review Panel (NRP), whose responsibility it is to independently review cases of serious incidents involving children in care or known to Tusla.”
Tusla also said it had launched an internal review to look into its engagements and interactions with Kiran and his family.
“We are aware of the ongoing Garda investigation and as such will not be commenting further at this time. Anyone with information on this case should contact An Garda Siochana,” they added.
Kieran was reported missing from his home in Drogheda on August 30.
Speaking outside Dundalk Police Station, Chief Constable Alan McGovern said officers seized a private house in Emmer Terrace.
“The aim of these searches is to find any evidence that could provide us with information as to Kieran’s current whereabouts or what happened to Kieran,” Mr McGovern said.
“The house is known to have been Kiran’s family home for a period of years until May 2024.
“I must emphasize that the current tenants of this house are in no way connected to Kiran or his disappearance.
“The Garda Siochana can confirm that Kieran was a pupil at a local national school, here in Dundalk, until approximately the end of the 2021/2022 school year.
“Kieran was reported missing, along with his mother, to An Garda Siochana on 30 August 2024 and was last seen on or about 28 August 2024. The Garda Siochana identified the whereabouts of Kyran’s mother.
“Despite the extensive inquiries carried out by gardai to date, we have been unable to locate Kieran, nor have we been able to identify any information on his current whereabouts or any evidence that he is currently alive.
“Following inquiries to date, gardaí investigators now believe Kieran is missing and presumed dead.”
Mr McGovern continued: “The Garda Siochana are liaising closely with other government agencies, including Tusla, who are co-operating and assisting fully with this murder investigation,” he added.
“I want to thank the members of the public who have contacted the Garda investigation team so far. Our sole focus and primary concern, as well as that of the investigative team, is Kiran.
“We want to find out where Kiran is. We want to know what happened to Kiran. I continue to appeal to anyone with any information in relation to Kieran’s disappearance to contact gardaí.
“Do not exclude any information you may have. Please do not assume that the investigative team knows any information you may have.
“Any information, however insignificant it may seem, would be welcomed by the investigative team. This information will be treated in the strictest confidence.’
Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said Kieran had “seriously failed” and that something had gone “extremely wrong” in his case.
“Like everyone across the country, I’m really hoping for a breakthrough and progress this morning,” he said.
“The Kieran Durnin case is deeply disturbing, deeply shocking, in fact I would go so far as to say it is absolutely horrifying.
“For any of us as human beings, for any of us parents, to think that a child can effectively disappear and go unnoticed and not be noticed that they’re not there is absolutely heartbreaking and clearly something is up here extremely confused. This kid was failed and failed badly.
He said he would not “undercut” the Garda investigation but promised to “make sure we get to the bottom of this”.
Mr Harris added: “How did this child, an eight-year-old little boy, go missing and it not be noticed? I don’t think there is anyone in Ireland, including myself, who can understand that this morning.
“Whatever is done to find out, from an accountability perspective, how this kid was failed, how Kieran was failed, needs to happen. The most important thing right now here and now is this Garda work which is going on as we speak, to (continue).”
On Monday, Children’s Minister Roderick O’Gorman said he had asked Tusla, the Agency for Children and Families, to send its files on Kieran to a panel that looks into the death of any young person involved in state care.
He said that normally wouldn’t happen until the investigation is complete, but he has asked the agency to release all case files to the National Review Panel.
Mr O’Gorman said it would help investigators understand Tusla’s involvement in the case.
Gardai are appealing for anyone with any information in relation to Kieran’s disappearance to contact Drogheda Garda on 041 987 4200, the Garda Confidential Line on (1800) 666 111 or any garda.